About Qi Gong

Qi Gong literally means “energy work,” qi is energy and gong is work. Qi Gong is classically understood to be a method of moving meditation to help regulate and increase the flow the of qi, or vital life force, in the human body and bring calmness and peace to the spirit.

Quantum physics understands that everything in the known universe is a manifestation of energy, every object in the universe is energy vibrating at a particular rate. Human beings are a collection of various types of energy. The study of energy is the study of one’s self. As stated at the Oracle of Delphi, “Know Thyself".” If you don’t know the one who does the knowing, what can you really know?

The study of energy is limitless and infinitely fascinating. As we become more acquainted with our own energy system we start to realize our interdependent connection with earth and the universe. We open pathways to be directly informed by nature and the universe.

Many people are familiar with Tai Chi, not so many with Qi Gong. However, Qi Gong is the mother of Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a more elaborate and ornate collection of Qi Gong moves and therefore harder to learn. Tai Chi is wonderful but because of the extensive movement focus many students do not have a deep knowledge of Qi Gong fundamentals which can help to harness abundant amounts of Qi. So they end up with beautiful movements without as much Qi cultivation as they could possibly have.

In our activity focused western world Qi Gong is slow to catch on. Older folks love Qi Gong because they are quickly restored to good health. Many young westerns dismiss it as being too simple and too slow. If they only gave themselves a dedicated period of practice their health and vitality would soar! Qi Gong has been called “the way of effortless power.”

Taoism classifies all energy as being either yin or yang, negative or positive, passive or active, dark or light, respectively. Nothing is totally yin nor totally yang but a combination where either yin or yang is predominant. Western culture is perhaps too heavy on yang. We prize activity, more activity, and production. I don’t think the term burnt out requires much clarification. The beautiful thing about Qi Gong is that it is heavy yin.

The human body may be compared to an oil lamp. The lamp require oil (yin) to burn the flame (yang). If it runs out of oil the flame goes out. We prize yang but we still need ample yin. How do we get our yin reserves up? Sleep is number one, then rest and relaxation, meditation, entertainment, etc. Qi Gong is one of the greatest ways to cultivate big reserves of yin energy so that we have more fuel for our yang activities to burn brighter.

Western science typifies the nervous system by yin or yang as well. The parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. For simplicity the parasympathetic nervous system is rest and digest and the sympathetic nervous system is fight, flight, or freeze (or high energy output). Primarily, in Qi Gong we stay in the parasympathetic nervous system to foster healing and nurturing energy. We learn to consciously distribute healing Qi to all of our body. We feel tremendous! And we have more energy to meet the strenuous demands of modern life.